Soothe Yo’Self! (aka The Lamest Title Pun I’ve Ever Come Up With – Yes. Yes It Is)

It's tough being a soother!

Self-soothing.

This is something I am just learning. The past three years has been a journey into the feelings I avoided over my life. Since I had associated tough feelings (anger, fear, sadness) with shame, I ran fast and away each time any of them surfaced. I thought if I felt any of those it must have been my fault and I didn’t do something “right.” And sometimes, of course, that’s true. But 90% of the time it’s just natural pain we all experienced as children. Therefore, shame resulted. READ MORE

Blue Light Therapy and Staring Into the Sun

See, this chick looks normal doing it! I just look creepy.

My girlfriend bought me a blue therapy light for Christmas.

I did a bunch of research on blue lights to see if they do, in fact, help to alleviate depression. Now, I don’t actually have depression. Well, not in the clinical sense. Sure I cry each morning when I awake, but that’s because the weight of the world is squarely resting on my shoulders! You know, normal thoughts. The blue light was appealing as it could help me to feel better and isn’t a destructive high. READ MORE

New ThoughtsFromParis Announcement!

I am proud to announce that I have been brought on as a full contributing editor for AimingLow.

This could not be more exciting as to be put on their official writing staff  is a very big deal to me. At first I was a lowly guest submitter hoping that they’d publish one of my articles. Next came being chosen for their Comic Relief Roster. This is the Junior Varsity team of AimingLow where you fill in when the regular writers miss a deadline. Well, after a long stint as a red-shirt (football expression I’m told) I now can proudly claim myself on their masthead. This comes at a good time, too, as the paper magazine I write for seems to be folding, sadly. They never let me do a lot of dick humor, though. AimingLow encourages it. READ MORE

I Made My Car Spin Around Like in the Movies!

It's a good thing I put on some foundation or you might see me at my less than perfect best.

I just drove through the worst blizzard of my life.

Not to worry, dearest dears, as I’m not writing this from the “other side.” Note – I once was meditating while in college and I felt myself leave my body. I was being pulled by some unknown force and I got scared and woke up. I thought I was going to be killed if I left my body. Turns out I’m a big pussy even in death. READ MORE

I’m Going To Be Making It Easier For You To Comment (and why I’m sad about this)

Start thinking of stuff to say and crap.

Okay – you’ve been yelling about this for over a year, and I’m finally listening.

I’ve been watching my comment counts go down over the past few months. This is odd because my pageviews are staying the same (and actually increasing every month). I had to conclude recently that my posts have been sucking nards. This is possible. I’m coming off nearly one full year of posting, and I felt some crappy posts have gone live in the past two months. Not a lot, but a few. READ MORE

Should I Surrender or Push Hard? (or at least come up with a better title – ’cause that one sucks)

Lamest graffiti ever. What happened to cool tags like "Spydr 69" and "Trust In doG"?

I was at an all-day goal setting workshop in the suburbs.

Goal setting, meaning actually writing down on paper that what I want to do with a completion date, has been one of those activities that works for me. I hardly ever do it, however. When I get home at night I have to finish getting current on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (what’s the gang doing this week?!). Plus, if I don’t stuff myself full of pizza how am I ever to pass out by eight o’clock? READ MORE

Want To Help Me Edit My First Book?

Best. Meme. Ever.

I’m in the process of working on my first book.

No, it’s not the book that will come out late 2013. That’s a little ways down the road. This one needs to get done first.

Without going into too much detail, I need a little help. There’s some editing that I’d like your input on. But, there’s also some busy work. The busy work entails doing some copying and pasting before the actual editing. What I think makes the most sense is to have four people assist – that way we can divvy up the workload and it won’t take long at all. READ MORE

One Month To Go – Don’t Screw It Up!

Maybe I'll devote December's posts to all the cool stuff that goes on in Thailand. Sure, this baby was eaten, but was eaten in a damned awesome way.

Back in January I promised to write every day that month. Then I just kept going.

Now, I’m in the home stretch with one month to go. I’ve gone without a miss and I’m proud of the work that’s been published. I would have never thought that I would have something to say every day of the year but I guess I did. Not every post was a winner – there’s a probably a dozen or two that I’d like removed. The bad hair days of writing, if you will. READ MORE

Going To a Dry Well

Just the thought of drinking well-water and I can taste that metal and I start shuddering.

Recently a reader asked if I had recorded the presentation I gave at AimingLow’s NonCon event this past fall.

Due to the intimacy of the room and the attendees, it really wouldn’t have made sense to video the talk. Also, it was interactive at times which wouldn’t have translated well to video. I do, however, have the presentation and thought I’d write tonight on one of the topics I discussed. READ MORE